Kulizhnikov (RUS) breaks Thialf’s 1:08 barrier in 1000m victory

Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS) became the first man to skate under 1 minute 8 seconds in the 1000m at the Thialf ice stadium as he bounced back from injury in Heerenveen on Sunday.

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The 23-year-old Russian took World Cup gold in a track record time of 1:07.97. Dutchman Kai Verbij finished second in 1:08.12 and Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen (NOR), who had won the first 500m on Friday, took bronze in 1:08.28.

Kulizhnikov had not been able to train for about two weeks prior to the first leg of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating series. He was not up to his usual speed in both 500m races, finishing sixth on Friday and 18th on Saturday.

His 1000m gold did not come as a surprise to him, however.

“I suffered from a groin injury and the 500m was harder for me than the 1000m, because the 500m is more explosive,” he said. “I’m in good shape now, but I still need a little more time to recover.”